Edward m



(No Model.)

E. M. BENTLEY. SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

o. 508,672. Patented Nov; 14,1893.

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EDWARD M. BENTLEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC RAl LWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 508,672, dated November14, 1893.

Application filed August 31, 1889. Serial No. 322,622. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD M. BENTLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switches forElectric Railways, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric railways and its object is to provide aswitch of sim: ple and reliable construction which will control themovement of a traveling contact device at a turn-out, and which isarranged, preferably, to guide the contact device normally along themain line when the car is traveling in one direction, but which willyield to permit the passage of the contact device when a car comes outof the siding in the opposite direction.

With these objects in view I have provided a switching section ofconductor which forms at one end a continuation of the branch conductor,and which at its other end normally bears against the main line wire.

My invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawings wherein FigureI represents aplan View of the main, branch and switching conductors.Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of theconductor showing a grooved contact device in engagement with its underside. Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating in modified form the contactdevice, and Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a modified form of theswitching conductor.

In the views A is the main supply conductor which is herein shown asextending continuously beyond the switch.

pivoting the conductor, as at D Fig. 5 and.

providing a spring E attached to the conductor at one end through'thecrank-arm projecting arms a, a, a to which the line' conductors areattached, while the hood itself is supported bya hanger F, whichincludes the insulator G. It is, however, apparent that the presentinvention can be applied with equal advantage to any system of lineconductors, wherever located, and I do not, therefore, intend to belimited to an overhead system alone.

H. Fig. 2 represents conventionally a contact device consisting of asupporting rod, and a grooved wheel I at its outer end adapted to form atraveling engagement with the under side of the supply conductor; thisform of contact device maybe connected toa ve'hiclein any wellknown,orsuitable manner.

In Fig. 4 the contact device is shown as consisting of an upright rodpivoted to the car on a longitudinal axis, and making contact with theside of the conductor, a spring connection J being provided to maintainthe contact device constantly against the conductor with a yieldingpressure.

Iclaim as my invention 1. The combination with the main and branchworking conductors A, B, of an electric railway, of the switchingconductor D, one end of which forms a direct continuation of the branchconductor B, and is movable laterally around its end as a center towardand away from the main conductor, and a spring normally holding the freeend of the switching conductor against the main conductor.

2. The combination with the main and 5 branch conductors, of a switchingconductor normally spring pressed against the main conand having itslower edge so shaped that it sinks gradually below the level of theunder side of the main conductor, whereby it guides I 5 the contactlaterally across and clear of said main conductor when taking theswitch.

This specification signed and witnessed this 21st day of August, 1889.

ED WARD M. BENTLEY.

Witnesses:

RoBT. W. BLACKWELL, ALEXANDER MoFFA'r.

